2 DIY Massage Techniques to Ease Summer Stress

With all the excitement surrounding the summer season, it can be easy to forget to take care of your body. Even though vacations, family outings and road trips can offer a happy escape from the hustle and bustle of work, physical activities can cause stress on certain areas of the body that aren’t used to the increased physical activity. Fortunately, a few simple self-massage techniques can go a long way to easing summer-related stresses.

Tend to your Garden… and Back

Many people find gardening to be a very therapeutic activity, but it can also take a toll on the body. You find yourself spending long hours sitting in the grass, leaning forward as you dig the next hole for your new violas. Soon enough, you hear your roses calling, and they look as though they are in need of a thorough trimming. As you carefully reach through the barbed branches, your lower body follows your lead in a twisting motion. Make sure you are ready for your next gardening session by working all of those kinks and knots out of your lower back.

To help ease lower back tension, use a tennis ball to massage the area. Place a tennis ball between your lower back and the wall. Find the right spot for the ball, and rock your body in a tiny motion – up and down or left and right – to work out knots and tightness in your back.

Beat the Heat

With the sun high in the sky and a cool breeze in the air, sometimes the most relaxing activity is working on that summer glow. With your go-to summer songs playing softly in the background, you let the August heat rain down on you. A few hours pass and you decide to go inside for the day, but suddenly the head rush you dreaded hits before you can react. Don’t let a relaxing day in the sun come to a screeching halt; avoid the post-sunbathing headache.

Try a quick head massage to ease the pain. Start by placing your thumbs on your cheekbones close to your ears, and use your fingertips to gently apply pressure and rub the temples (the soft spot between the corner of your eye and your ear). Using very firm pressure and a tiny circular motion, gradually move your fingers up along your hairline until they meet in the middle of your forehead, massaging your entire forehead and scalp as you inch along. And remember to drink plenty of water!

Glo is a free woman's magazine for the Fort Wayne area with a mission to provide women fresh, local perspectives on health, family, beauty, living trends, and more. We hope to inspire women in the Fort Wayne metro area to explore their passions and follow their interests. Newsstand circulation is 20,000+ per month.